1980 Livermore earthquake

Surface faulting consisting of discontinued and small offsets occurred along the Greenville and Las Positas faults. At least 4.2 km (2.6 mi) of rupture occurred on the Greenville Fault, but it may have extended south to Interstate Highway 580, giving a possible total length of 6.2 km (3.9 mi). Surface faulting was sparse along the rupture. A maximum right-lateral offset of 25 mm (0.98 in) and vertical offset of 50 mm (2.0 in) was recorded. A 0.5 km (0.31 mi) rupture was located 0.12–0.25 km (0.075–0.155 mi) east of the main rupture, and 25 m (82 ft) away from another known fault. The secondary break produced 20 cm (7.9 in) of right-lateral offset, and 40 mm (1.6 in) of extension. Offset was also recorded along at least 1.1 km (0.68 mi) of the Las Positas Fault Zone. These consisted of small left-lateral offsets.[5]

Damage to property was nonstructural—consisting of fallen ceiling tiles, detached bricks from chimneys, ruptured gas and water lines, shattered windows, and mobile homes displaced from their foundations. At a ranch north of Livermore, along Vasco Road, two brick-and-stone fireplaces were fractured and offset from their walls. Along Interstate 580 and Greenville Road, a concrete pavement sunk 30 cm (12 in), and the a concrete abutment fractured and spalled. Forty four people were injured. Damage at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory was estimated at $10 million.[6]

The January 26 aftershock caused six additional injuries in Livermore from glass and falling debris. Fifty homes sustained minor damage in Tassajara. A fireplace was damaged, walls and concrete fractured, walls detached from ceilings, windows broke and a chimney collapsed. In Danville, a brick chimney and fireplace were damaged, stone wall was destroyed, and walls, patios, sidewalks and ceilings cracked. Several other towns reported slight damage.[6]